Small scale paperboard building reproduction



F. L. VALENTIN E Sept. 26, 1967- I SMALL SCALE'PAPERBOARD BUILDING REPRODUCTION 2 Sheets$heet l Filed Oct. 19, 1964 FLO RENCE L; VALENTINE I Sept. 26, 1967 F. VALENTIN E SMALL SCALE PAPERBOARD BUILDING REPRODUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct;. 19, 1964 F I 3 INVENTOR.

FLORENCE L. VALENTINE United States Patent This invention relates generally to small scale model buildings and more particularly is directed towards small scale paperboard reproductions of structures such as historical buildings and the like.

Small scale buildings have been available for many years for a wide variety of uses ranging from advertising displays, to toys and souvenirs. Heretofore, the majority of these buildings have been fabricated from paper mach, from wood by carving and/or milling, from plastic by injection molding, or by other conventional means. To reproduce a full-scale building in a small scale model, generally, very expensive techniques were required in order to achieve a faithful reproduction. For example, the molds needed for a small scale building when fabricating the same from plastic involve a substantial investment particularly if the building includes a large number of small details. As a result, most small scale buildings of this type are either too expensive for the general public or are lacking in detail and are generally unsatisfactory from the standpoint of fidelity in reproduction.

From the standpoint of cost, compactness, ease in mailing and general interest it is desirable to fabricate small scale paperboard reproductions of historical buildings and the like but heretofore there has been no satisfactory arrangement for producing small scale buildings from die cut paperboard, particularly where the structures display a large amount of architectural detail.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in small scale building reproduc. tions.

Another object of this invention is to provide improvements in the construction of small scale model paperboard buildings.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement for fabricating in miniature faithful reproductions of architecturally detailed buildings.

More particularly, this invention is directed towards a small scale paperboard building fabricated from die cut sheet paperboard of component parts which may be assembled into a single structure. Such components include uniquely cut sheets which may be formed into domes for use in domed buildings and also includes a novel paperboard collar arrangement for shaping components and -at the same time adding to the structural rigidity of the unit.

This invention also features a novel arrangement for fabricating and securing a roof component to a small scale building to give a realistic appearance to the building.

The invention also includes a novel arrangement for assembling and connecting stacked building components to form a paperboard reproduction of a tower displaying unusual rigidity without loss of detail.

However, these and other features of the invention, along with further objects and advantages thereof, will become more 'fully apparent from the following detailed description of the drawings, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective partly exploded showing a small scale paperboard reproduction of a historical building,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the base portion of the tower in FIG. 1, and

3,343,297 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 lCe FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the upper portion of the tower with certain portions partially formed to show detailsof construction.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character 10 generally indicates a small scale paperboard reproduction of the well-known Independence Hall in Philadelphia, comprising a main building 12 and an attached tower 14 to one side thereof. Typical of the colonial architecture, the building includes a number of small and unusual details such as railings, gables, domes and the like. Heretofore there had been no. satisfactory arrangement for reproducing this type of architecture in paperboard reproductions.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main building 12 is formed from flat sheet stock of paperboard suitably printed on one side to represent small pane windows 16, a red brick facing 18, and arched chimney ports 20. The building 12 is die cut from a paperboard blank and folded into the box form shown with the free ends connected by corner tabs 22 engaging corner slots 24 formed in a corner flap 26. The set up main building includes side walls 28 and end walls 30. The side walls are generally flat and formed with top fold flaps 32 and bottom fold flaps 34 which, when bent in at right angles, add substantially to the rigidity of the erected building. Both side walls are formed with slots 34 near their upper marginal edges for reasons that will presently appear.

The end walls 30 are generally rectangular except for the top portion which has a sloping roof line 36, upstanding end tabs 38 and a center chimney portion 40. This chimney portion is an integrated piece having articulated outer and inner walls 42 and 44, end panels 46 and 48, and a top cover piece 50 adapted to fold over and enclose the chimney when folded into the rectangular box form shown in part at the right hand side of FIG. 1. It will be noted that the inner wall 44 is formed with a pair of vertical slots 52 which Will engage the end tabs of railing section 56 when a roof 58 is subsequently applied.

The roof 58 is generally rectangular when flat and is formed with score lines 60 and 62 extending longitudinally along both sides of the roof and along which the roof is folded to form eaves 62, a sloping roof section 64 and a flat roof section 66. The ends of each section 64 are notched at 68 for cooperative engagement with the upstanding tabs 38 on the end wall 30. The flat portion 66 is recessed at 70 to accommodate the folded chimney 40 when the roof is set in place. The eaves 62 will be seen to be formed with tabs 72 which are inserted in the side wall slots 34 from the outside whereby a three-dimensional elfect is achieved for the roof structure with no locking tabs visible from the exterior of the building. The cave portion 60 may be suitably printed to represent the conventional eaves which display rafter ends or the like. Slots 72 will be seen to be formed along the score line 62 in the roof 58 to receive tabs 74 formed alongthe lower edge of the rail sections 66. The upstanding end wall tabs 38, it will be appreciated, serve to accurately position the roof with respect to the end walls and these tabs correspond to small cornices which exist on the original.

The tower portion 14 of the building is a tiered structure and includes a boxed base portion 76 which attaches to the main building portion by means of tabs 78 engaging slots 80 formed in one of the side walls 28.

As best shown in FIG. 2 the rear wall of the base 76 and portions of the side walls are cut away at 82 to conform to the roof line, eaves and side wall of the main building 12. The rear panel of the base is provided with a flap 84 having slits along its crease line to receive locking tabs 86 formed along the edge of the side panel for joining the free ends of the paperboard blank from which the base is formed. Hinged to the upper edge of the rear 3 panel of the base is a top cover 88 having marginal tabs 90 adapted to engage slits 92 formed along the upper edges of the front and side panels.

Formed also in the front and side panels of the base portion are pairs of spaced horizontal slits 94 which receive locking tabs 96 and 98 of a lower cornice 100 which extends about the front and sides of the tower portion. This cornice consists of a U shaped paperboard section with the tabs formed medially along the legs and along a fold panel 102 which corresponds to the caves of the cornice. Thus it will be understood that the upper tabs 96 are inserted in the upper of each pair of slits 94 while the lower tab 98 is inserted in the lower slit of the pair 94 to form a three-dimensional cornice about the base.

Spaced above the slits 94 are additional horizontal slits 104 on all sides of the base to receive locking tabs 106 for a middle cornice 108. This middle cornice is similar in construction to the lower cornice 100 with the exception that it is cut in an open square to form a collar which is slipped down over the top of the base portion. Both tabs on each leg of the cornice are inserted in the same slit 104. Disposed above each of the slits 104 is a pair of diagonal slits 110 on each side of the base to .receive locking tabs 112 formed on the inner margin of gable pieces 114. These gable pieces are short strips folded in the middle and attached to the base directly over the middle cornice 108 so that their opposing lower ends touch the top surface of the middle cornice 108, as best shown in FIG. 1.

Attached to the upper portion of the base 76 is a top cornice 116 similar in construction to the lower cornice 100 with the exception that the inclined upper roof portion 118 is wider and the cornice is formed with four legs instead of the three shown in the cornice 100. The upper cornice 116 is a one-piece affair with the free ends being joined at one corner which is supplied with a flap 120. Tabs 122 are provided on the lower eave panels for insertion in horizontal slits 124 formed near the upper margin of the base panels. The sloped roof portion 118 is also formed with slits 126 to receive the locking tabs 128 formed in the lower margins of a rectangular railing section 130. Typically, the rail-ing section 130 is provided with upright posts 132 which are cut out from the paperboard stock.

Referring now to the lower portion of FIG. 3, there is shown a belfry 134 of box form with the free ends joined by a fiap and tab arrangement 136 and 138. This portion is somewhat smaller than the base and is formed with tabs 140 about its upper edges and tabs 142 about its lower edges. The lower portion of section 134 is passed through a central rectangular opening 144 formed in the cornice section 116 and the tabs 142 are inserted in slits 146 formed in a rectangular array in the cover 88. Slits 148 are also formed in the lower portion of each of the four walls of the belfry section 134 to receive locking tabs 150 formed on the inner edges of the cornice 116.

Assembled on top of the belfry section 134 is a rectangular panel 152 having slits 154 to receive tabs 140. The slits 154 also receive tabs 156 formed along the lower edge of a railing section 158, similar in construction to the railing section 130 but of a smaller size. Mounted also to the panel 152 is a box section 160 having lower marginal tabs 162 for insertion in slits 164 formed in the panel 152 inwardly of the slits 154. Decorative corner posts 166 are formed at each corner of the section 160.

Mounted over the top of the section 160 is another rectangular panel 168 formed with corner openings 170 to accommodate the posts 166. The panel is also provided with slits 172 to receive tabs 174 formed in the lower edge of a dome section 176. This dome portion comprises a plurality of articulated rectangular panels 178, typically eight in number, the upper portions of which are cut to form articulated truncated pyramid sections 180 and 182 and end tabs 184. A score line 186 is provided between 4 each panel 178 and its pyramid section with a score line 188 separating the two pyramid sections. Another score line 189 separates the tab section 184 from the upper pyramid section 182. It will be understood that by folding the several panels into a tube and bending the pyramid sections and tab sections along their fold lines, a very realistic dome 190 is formed as best shown in FIG. 1. The tubular arrangement is maintained by the tabs 174 engaging the slots 172 and by means of octagonal collar 192 which is slipped down over the top of the dome and locked by means of inwardly projecting tabs 194 engaging slits 196 formed in the panel section 178.

Disposed on top of the dome 190 is a cupola 198 typically comprising eight articulated rectangular panels 200 alternate ones of which are provided with lower tabs 202 for insertion in small slits 204 formed along the score lines 189 on the top of the dome. It will be understood that the panels 200 are folded into a tube in the manner shown in FIG. 1 and an octagonal collar 206 is slipped down over the top to hold the cupola in the desired shape. Mounted on top of the cupola is an octagonal base 208 having depending tabs 210 and a square central opening 212 to receive an elongated boxed spire 214. It will be understood that the tabs 210 are inserted in the open upper end of the cupola and the spire is inserted through the opening 212 to hold the components in assembled relation. A common pin 260 is struck onto the top of the spire and carries a paperboard weathervane 218.

The invention described herein is ideally suited for use as a souvenir and may be readily manufactured in sheet punch-out form. In the flat sheet form these reproductions may be easily contained by a relatively small flat envelope for easy mailing. The components may be easily punched out and the building assembled in a relatively short time to form an extremely realistic reproduction of the original but on a much smaller scale and at a lower cost than similar models heretofore available.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description and accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A small scale model building, comprising (a) a plurality of initially flat paperboard components cut to predetermined configurations for interlocking assembly with one another to form an erected model building,

(b) one of said components having means for forming a tube and dome, said means including a plurality of articulated panels joined edge to edge,

(e) the upper portions of said panels being free ends formed into tapered sections of matching size and shape whereby said panels may be folded to form a tube and said tapered sections may be bent inwardly into edge to edge contact to form a dome,

(d) another of said components comprising collar means having a central opening therein corresponding to the cross-section of said tube whereby said other component may be slipped over said tube to hold said panels in position, and

(e) means for holding said tapered sections in the dome form, said means including a tab formed on the end of each tapered section and a second tube formed from a plurality of articulated panels, said second tube being of smaller diameter than the first tube and adapted to fit snugly over said tabs when coaxially arranged with respect to said first tube.

2. A small scale model building, comprising (a) a plurality of initially fiat paperboard components cut to predetermined configurations and foldable for interlocking assembly with one another to form an erected model building,

(b) one of said components having a plurality of articulated panels .joined edge to edge, each having a slit formed therein,

(c) means for joining the free ends of said one component to form a first tube of rectangular cross-section,

((1) a cover member hinged to one end of one of said panels for closing said one end of said tube,

(e) said cover member being formed with a rectangular array of slits inwardly of its marginal edges,

(f) a second of said components being a rectangular tube of smaller cross-section than said first tube for assembly on the cover of the first tube,

(g) said second tube being formed with tabs along the bottom edges thereof corresponding in size and location to said cover slits for insertion therein and slits in each side thereof, and

(h) a collar member having upwardly inclined upper panels defining a rectangular opening of a size to fit said second tube and downwardly inclined lower 6 panels defining a rectangular opening of a size to fit said first tube,

(i) the inner edges of said lower and upper panels being formed with tabs corresponding in size and location to the slits of the sides of said first and second tubes respectively for insertion therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,633 5/1884 Snow 46-16 1,742,905 1/ 1930 Friedel 46-21 1,861,206 5/ 1932 Burgess 2298 X 2,618,887 11/ 1952 Frankenstein 46-11 FOREIGN PATENTS 125,547 4/ 1919 Great Britain.

507,970 6/1939 Great Britain.

529,913 12/ 1940 Great Britain.

109,395 1/ 1947 Netherlands.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SMALL SCALE MODEL BUILDING, COMPRISING (A) A PLURALITY OF INITIALLY FLAT PAPERBOARD COMPONENTS CUT TO PREDETERMINED CONFIGURATIONS FOR INTERLOCKING ASSEMBLY WITH ONE ANOTHER TO FORM AN ERECTED MODEL BUILDING, (B) ONE OF SAID COMPONENTS HAVING MEANS FOR FORMING A TUBE AND DOME, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ARTICULATED PANELS JOINED EDGE TO EDGE, (C) THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID PANELS BEING FREE ENDS FORMED INTO TAPERED SECTIONS OF MATCHING SIZE AND SHAPE WHEREBY SAID PANELS MAY BE FOLDED TO FORM A TUBE AND SAID TAPERED SECTIONS MAY BE BENT INWARDLY INTO EDGE TO EDGE CONTACT TO FORM A DOME, (D) ANOTHER OF SAID COMPONENTS COMPRISING COLLAR MEANS HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THEREIN CORRESPOND- 